Decision details

To approve specific revenue and capital budget carry forward requests from 2014/15 into 2015/16.

Matter for Decision

The Officer’s report presented a summary of the 2014/15 outturn position (actual income and expenditure) for services within the Communities Portfolio (formerly Community, Arts & Recreation), compared to the current budget for the year. The position for revenue and capital was reported and variances from budgets highlighted, together with explanations. Requests to carry forward funding arising from certain budget underspends into 2015/16 were identified.

 

Decision of Executive Councillor for Communities

The Executive Councillor agreed:

 

Revenue and Capital Outturn, Carry Forwards and Significant Variances – Communities Portfolio (formerly Community, Arts & Recreation)

 

       i.          The carry forward requests, totalling £162,000 as detailed in Appendix C of the Officer’s report, be recommended to Council for approval.

     ii.          To seek approval from Council to fund re-phased net capital spending of £3,911,000 (of which £3,539,000 relates to Clay Farm Community Centre) in respect of capital schemes.

 

Buchan Street Community Centre - New Roof Replacement

 

   iii.          To approve the refurbishment of the tiled roof and thermal insulation replacement at Buchan Street Community Centre, as detailed in the attached appendices, which has been properly planned and is ready for implementation, subject to any feedback from the Capital Programme Board

   iv.          To recommend that Council approve capital funding of £60,000 for the refurbishment of the tiled roof and replacement of thermal insulation project.

 

Ross Street Community Centre - New Boiler system

 

    v.          To approve the replacement of the boiler system at Ross Street Community Centre, as detailed in the attached appendices, which has been properly planned and is ready for implementation, subject to any feedback from the Capital Programme Board.

   vi.          To recommend that Council approve capital funding of £36,000 for the replacement boiler system project.

 

Reason for the Decision

As set out in the Officer’s report.

 

Any Alternative Options Considered and Rejected

Not applicable.

 

Scrutiny Considerations

The Committee received a report from the Senior Accountant. He referred to an addendum (as per paragraph 3.7 of the Officer’s report) that incorporated the recommendations set out on pages 52 and 60 into those on P41 of the agenda 2014/15 Outturn Report:

 

2. Recommendations

 

Buchan Street Community Centre - New roof replacement

 

c)    To approve the refurbishment of the tiled roof and thermal insulation replacement at Buchan Street Community Centre, as detailed in the attached appendices, which has been properly planned and is ready for implementation, subject to any feedback from the Capital Programme Board

d)   To recommend that Council approve capital funding of £60,000 for the refurbishment of the tiled roof and replacement of thermal insulation project.

 

Ross Street Community Centre - New Boiler system

 

e)   To approve the replacement of the boiler system at Ross Street Community Centre , as detailed in the attached appendices, which has been properly planned and is ready for implementation, subject to any feedback from the Capital Programme Board

f)     To recommend that Council approve capital funding of £36,000 for the replacement boiler system project.

 

 

In response to the Officer’s report the Committee stated the launch of Cambridge Live had gone well. This had been a difficult project to manage.

 

Councillor Reid asked for specific details in future Officer reports to explain non-technical reasons for budget variances between ‘original’ and ‘final’ budget figures. She also stated that historically, if savings arose in one part of the portfolio, Officers used to ask the Committee’s permission to move elsewhere. Councillor Reid asked if this practice would happen again in future.

 

In response to Members’ questions the Director of Customer and Community Services said the following:

       i.          She appreciated the need for budgetary transparency.

     ii.          Unusual circumstances had arisen with the budget due to the launch of Cambridge Live and the reconfiguration of central support costs.

   iii.          The budget had not been in the position Officers would like over the last year as there had been a lot of variances, this was due to historic financial issues and an agreement to clearly identify and track them as the services migrated to Cambridge Live.

 

In response to Members’ questions the Head of Communities, Arts and Recreation; Senior Accountant plus Community, Sport & Recreation Manager said the following:

       i.          The Equalities budget (P44 of the Officer’s report) had £0 funding under the budget heading as a single member of staff had been incorporated into a team. The budget heading had not been removed for accounting reasons. The Head of Communities, Arts and Recreation undertook to clarify further details with Councillor O’Connell.

     ii.          The Senior Accountant undertook to inform Councillor Reid about the capital value of The Junction.

   iii.          The whole Buchan Street building, except for the new extension, would be re-roofed. This would address maintenance issues such as leaks.

   iv.          Officers from across the council had liaised to take the opportunity to retrofit energy efficiency measures as part of Buchan Street building repair/maintenance work. The Climate Change Officer had advised that funding could be applied for when work required had been identified such as insulation and boiler replacement. The viability of photovoltaic panels was being reviewed.

    v.          If a bid was made for energy efficiency measures funding, this would cover a few thousand pounds. The remaining cost of the £60,000 project would have to be funded by the capital budget.

   vi.          The Community, Sport & Recreation Manager was liaising with the Neighbourhood Community Development Manager and contractors to minimise the impact of Buchan Street building work on the nursery. The Community, Sport & Recreation Manager was developing a business case to go to the project board to look at the impact of building work on operations and how to mitigate this if work was deemed appropriate to go ahead.

 

The Committee unanimously resolved to endorse the recommendations.

 

The Executive Councillor approved the recommendations.

 

Conflicts of Interest Declared by the Executive Councillor (and any Dispensations Granted)

No conflicts of interest were declared by the Executive Councillor.